WASHINGTON D.C. -- US Secretary of State[sic] Nicholas Burns said that the EU must assure countries of the Balkans regions that they will all become members; Kosovo included.

Speaking at a conference held at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C., Burns said that such a strong stance is necessary for securing peace in Europe. Burns said that the Balkans remain an island in the heart of Europe which is not affiliated with Euro-Atlantic institutions such as the EU and NATO, adding that this needs to change.

All of us in Europe and the US have decided that Serbia, when it becomes democratic, as well as Croatia, Albania and Macedonia and an independent Kosovo, if they decide to enter the United Nations by the end of the year, which seems to be the goal of the current discussions, that all these countries must have a European omen. We Americans also think that Europe must tell these nations that they are guaranteed a place within the European Union. And NATO must send a clear message, because the basis strategic goal of every American administration since the beginning of the cold war is that European must be whole, free and peaceful. We are close to reaching that important strategic goal, but the Balkans still remains an unfinished job and we must not forget this. Burns said.

Serbia has been a democratic state since September 24, 2000. We could actually argue that it's been democratic since 1990, but that would be a stretch. I mean, France was considered democratic, even though it had authoritarian rulers (the 3rd Republic, for example). What is the meaning of "democratic," anyway? Give me an example of a democratic state and let's see if Serbia doesn't cut it.

The State Dep't is still run by the Clintonistas and the civil service is chock-full of his socialists from the days of yore. They are bent on punishing Serbia for all the world's ills.